Michael Whitaker will behoping to equal if not better his third place in last year’s final, riding Anne Bedford’s 13 year-old dark bay stallion, Handel II.

Handel has been rested since sustaining a high flexor tendon injury in s’Hertogenbosch, which has been healing well.

The rest of the world

Michael and Richard will be competing against 38 of the the best riders in world, including title holder Marcus Fuchs (SUI), and the FEI’s top three ranked riders, Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Ludo Philippaerts (BEL).

A strong challenge is also expected from Germany’s Marcus Ehning, Lars Nieberg and Ren‚ Tebbel, while few would bet against Rolf-G”ran Bengtsson (SWE), Jan Tops (NED) and Jerry Smit (DEN) being among the top placed riders.

Join more than 46,000 equestrians

Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from Horse & Hound and other brands within the Time Inc. UK Group by email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

We'd also like to send you special offers and news just by email from other carefully selected companies we think you might like. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies - we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time. Please tick here if you are happy to receive these messages.